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Bruce Shellhamer couldn’t make it to the Fire District 13 Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday when he was voted in unanimously to fill a vacancy on the board.

Fire 13 Chief Roy Horn told commissioners Chuck Hedlund and Larry Kibbee that there had been five who expressed interest in filling the board seat left vacant last month when Commissioner Arne Fohn resigned.

Horn endorsed Shellhamer, 60, for the position.

A resident of the La Conner area for 2 years, Shellhamer lives in the Pull & Be Damned Road area and is a former pastor who now works with the state Department of Social and Health Services providing transportation for children in foster care.

Hedlund and Kibbee said Shellhamer had a commitment that made him miss Thursday’s meeting.

In his letter of application, Shellhammer stated he has no firefighting or EMT experience, but does have leadership experience.

He was a pastor for 24 years, serving at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon and at Crossroads Covenant church in Burlington. He has also worked with the Child Protective Team of Skagit County, and with the county Interagency Task Force Against Domestic Violence, and has served on the boards of agencies combatting homeless and advocating for mental health.

While he can be seated on the three-man Fire District 13 Board immediately, he must file for the November election during a special filing period that closes Friday.

The board chose him to fill out the two years remaining on Fohn’s term, which expires in 2019, but under state law his appointment must be confirmed by voters at the next election, which is in November.

Kibbee will also be on the November ballot as he is running unopposed for re-election to his six-year term.